When Amy and Jason Fine were planning their 2006 wedding, they feared a ceremony in their hometown of St. Louis would be too large and impersonal. In Amy’s words, the couple wanted something unique that was “more than one night of celebrating with the people who are closest to us.”

The couple’s mountaintop ceremony in Puerta Vallarta, Mexico, fit both their budget and their expectations.

According to a 2006 bridal magazine survey, 16 percent of couples opt for destination weddings — a 400 percent increase from 10 years ago. Kimberly O’Flaherty, a Boston-area destination-wedding specialist, says this popularity stems from the combination of cutting costs and emphasizing time with a smaller group of people “who are very committed to the bride and groom.”

“In a lot of ways you are putting the burden of some of the payment on the guests themselves,” she said. “But what they are getting from it is their own vacation.”

Oceanfront all-inclusive resorts offer a broad range of wedding packages; couples can spend anywhere from zero to thousands of dollars. Because the wedding fills their guest rooms, many resorts offer complimentary bridal suites, cocktail parties or other money-saving perks. For a private dinner reception, O’Flaherty estimates an average cost of $50 a plate compared with $150 or more at a stateside hotel.

Couples flying south to wed have a range of tropical options. Here are just a few.

Dominican Republic

godominicanrepublic.com

Hefty paperwork requirements and a scarcity of judges make this location challenging. However, gorgeous white beaches, tropical gardens, low prices and welcoming resort staffs keep couples enthralled with this Caribbean destination. Many of O’Flaherty’s Dominican Republic wedding clients are “people who have been there and will do anything to get married there.”

Aruba

aruba.com

While the island has only a few all-inclusive resorts, it is outside of the hurricane belt and rain is rare. The country requires all couples to wed in the local town hall before having a beachside ceremony. Fortunately the town hall is a Caribbean-style mansion from the 1920s.

U.S. Virgin Islands

usvitourism.vi

Couples who wed in St. John, St. Thomas or St. Croix are having a legal U.S. ceremony. This means a stunning beachside wedding without the passports and extra paperwork. Everything is in English, and it’s much easier for couples to plan a Catholic, Jewish or other religious ceremony.

Jamaica

visitjamaica.com

With minimal paperwork and other requirements, Jamaica is logistically very easy. The island’s varied topography offers sandy beaches or dramatic bluffs. The wide variety means “you can really get into different budgets here,” O’Flaherty said.

Riviera Maya

visitmexico.com

The eastern coast of Mexico is an easy flight from the Midwest and East Coast. Beaches are beautiful, and hotels abound. While guests fly into the Cancun airport, O’Flaherty stresses that the Riviera resorts are a world away from tawdry spring break destinations.

SIDEBAR

Tips for a smooth sailing wedding

Make sure friends, family are on board: Obviously not everyone can make it to a destination wedding, but think about who you truly must have by your side. Are you grandparents able to travel? Is your best friend strapped for cash? Talk to your inner circle before you book anything.

Start as early as possible: Once you select a location and venue, make sure your date is confirmed. Then hurry up and send out those save-the-date cards.

Communicate travel details: Set up a Web site, send out e-mail updates and do everything in your power to make sure guests understand booking deadlines, resort arrangements and other critical information.

Work with a professional: Boston-based Kimberly O’Flaherty works with www.destinationweddings.com. Couples who use that site pay a $50 deposit for a planner’s services, which is refunded if they end up booking a travel package. Having an expert’s advice can be helpful, especially since most couples choose a destination sight unseen.

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